FRENCH, Herbert



No 202895,Private, Herbert FRENCH
Aged 33


1st/4th Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales' (Royal Berkshire Regiment)
Died of his Wounds on Tuesday, 9th October 1917


Herbert French was born in Poslingford (Risbridge Q3-1884 4A:604) son of George and Ellen FRENCH (née BRETT).

1891 census...Aged 6, he was at Gosling Green, Poslingford with his father George FRENCH [29] farm labourer; his mother Ellen [28]; sister Edith [5] and brother Arthur [2]. All were born in Poslingford

1901 census...Aged 16, (recorded now as born in Stansfield) farm labourer, he was at The Hall, Boxted with his parents (father now recorded as born Denston, mother at Stansfield); sister Edith and brother Arthur now recorded as born in Stanfield; borthers Charles W [7] and Alfred [4] both born Foxearth, Essex; sister Ada [18 months] born Boxted.

He married Bessie JEFFERIES (née BRUTY) (b. 25-10-1888) in 1909, (she had married Willie JEFFERIES in 1906, who died in 1907 aged 22), later to marry Frederick LEVITT in 1919 and live at Oak Cottage, Snow Hill, Clare

1911 census...Aged 26 a farm labourer, he was in Poslingford with his wife Bessie [27] born Clare; their son Ernest George [1](died aged 4 in 1915) born Poslingford; stepson Harris Walter Charles BRUTY [6] born Clare 19-12-1905 and stepson Joseph William Jefferies [3] born Clare 26-11-1907.

The pension card has his widow at Oak Cottage, Snow Hill, Clare with the two boys and daughters, Edith Matilda Ellen (b.19-3-1912) and Bessie Hannah (b. 8-10-1914)


He enlisted in Bury St Edmunds.
He died of his wounds in an aid station so it is not possible to say where or when he was wounded. His battalion had been in trenches in the area between Ypres and Langemarck in the early days of October 1917



photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Herbert French is buried in Duhallows Advanced Dressing Station Cemetery, Ypres grave 1:D:34

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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